Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALFONXHE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALFONXHE’, particularly characterized by having light purple flowers with dark red-purple centers, 1 to 4 peduncles that are long and sturdy, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALFONXHE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of theOrchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘PHALFONXHE’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objectiveof this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant withlight purple flowers and a dark red-purple center, suitable for pottedplant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALFONXHE’ is a result of cross-pollinationmade by the inventor in October 2006 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands ofthe proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘01-1941’(unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsishybrid ‘22715-03’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in October 2009. Asexualreproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culturesince 2013 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the newvariety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Sep. 13, 2016. ‘PHALFONXHE’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and can be used todistinguish ‘PHALFONXHE’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsisplant.

-   -   1) Light purple flowers with dark red-purple centers;    -   2) 1 to 4 peduncles;    -   3) Peduncle is long and sturdy; and    -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms andfoliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs weretaken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, from 50-week oldplants in January 2017. Colors in the photographs may differ from thecolor values cited in the detailed botanical description, whichaccurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of‘PHALFONXHE’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALFONXHE’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALFONXHE’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALFONXHE’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature,light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype. The chart used in the identification of colors describedherein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms ofordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands. Observations and measurements were made in January 2017 on50-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Moth orchid.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALFONXHE’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1941’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘22715-03’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture.        -   Roots:        -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots (RHS 190B/C)            with branching lateral roots having greyed red-purple            colored root tips (RHS N77B).-   Plant:    -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Approximately 48 to 50            weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to            panicle.        -   Height (from soil level to top of            inflorescence).—Approximately 46.0 cm to 56.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 35.0 cm to 40.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Strong.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 6 to 8 leaves are            produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 15.0 cm            to 20.0 cm. Width: 7.0 cm to 8.0 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base            shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Unequal obtuse. Leaf            blade angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal            position): Between 15 degrees and 30 degrees. Leaf margin:            Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS            147B. Texture: Smooth. Thickness: 2.5 mm to 3.0 mm.            Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper            surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 147B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 4.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—6 to 10.        -   Length.—46.0 cm to 56.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—5.5 mm to 5.8 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Green (RHS 146B) with a touch of brown (RHS 200B).        -   Internode length.—45.0 mm to 50.0 mm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 150.0 mm to            180.0 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm (diameter) pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 65.0 mm to 70.0 mm. Diameter: 80.0 mm to            85.0 mm. Depth of lip: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 8 to 10 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flower bud.—Average size: Large. Length: 23.0 mm to 25.0 mm.            Width: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color: Green            (RHS 146D) and red-purple towards the tip (RHS 59B).        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:            Rounded to slightly emarginated asymmetric. Margin: Slightly            undulated. Length (from base to tip): 38.0 mm to 40.0 mm.            Width: 46.0 mm to 48.0 mm. Color (when fully opened): Upper            surface: Basic color: Light purple (RHS 76C). Over color:            Dark red-purple (RHS 59B and N79C). Lower surface: Basic            color: Light purple (RHS 76D). Over color: Purple (RHS 77D)            with diluting dots (RHS N79B).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Rounded symmetric.            Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 38.0 mm to            40.0 mm. Width: 30.0 mm to 32.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Light purple (RHS 76C).            Over color: Dark red-purple spots (RHS 59B and N79C). Lower            surface: Basic color: Light purple (RHS 76B). Over color:            Light green (RHS 146D) and a touch of purple (RHS N78B).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.            Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 38.0 mm to            40.0 mm. Width: 28.0 mm to 30.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Light purple (RHS 76D).            Over color: Dark red-purple spots (RHS 59B and N79C) and            purple on the side and tip (RHS N78B). Lower surface: Basic            color: Purple (RHS N78B). Over color: Green at the base (RHS            146D); diluting purple spots (RHS N79B).        -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 14.0            mm to 16.0 mm. Color of whiskers: Purple (RHS N78A) with            white edge (RHS NN155C). Pubescence on the lip: Absent.            Pubescence on the whiskers: Present.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Spatulate. Margin: Slightly undulated.            Length: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Width: 18.0 mm to 20.0 mm.            Color: White (RHS NN155C) with purple (RHS N78A) and            red-purple (RHS 187B) stripes and small yellow (RHS 4B) spot            on the side.        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular. Margin: Entire. Length: 17.0            mm to 19.0 mm. Width: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Color: Purple (RHS            NN78A) and white (RHS NN155C) in the middle toward the tip            with light brown (RHS 182C) wings.        -   Callus.—Average size: Medium. Height: 0.6 cm to 0.7 cm.            Length: 0.4 cm to 0.5 cm. Width: 0.5 cm to 0.6 cm. Color:            Dark red (RHS 187A).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Column.—Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Diameter: 4.6 mm to            5.1 mm. Color: Light purple (RHS N78C/D).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm. Color:            Orange (RHS 25A).        -   Ovary.—Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 2.1 mm to 2.3 mm.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 28.0 mm to 30.0 mm. Diameter: 2.6 mm to            2.8 mm. Color: Green (RHS 145C) at the base and light purple            (RHS N78D) toward the flower.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to    Phalaenopsis.-   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on    plants of the new Phalaenopsis.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND SIMILAR COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘PHALFONXHE’ differs from the female parent plant ‘01-1941’(unpatented), in that ‘PHALFONXHE’ has light purple flowers with acenter pattern and purple (RHS N78A) whiskers with white edge, whereas‘01-1941’ has white flowers with a spotted pattern and striped edge andred-purple (RHS 71A) whiskers.

‘PHALFONXHE’ differs from male parent plant ‘22715-03’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALFONXHE’ has light purple (RHS 76C) flowers with a centerpattern and purple (RHS N78A) whiskers with white edge (RHS NN155C),whereas ‘22715-03’ has purple (RHS N78A) flowers with an even patternand purple whiskers (RHS N78A).

‘PHALFONXHE’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named‘PHALFENCK’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,460) and ‘PHALFUNWUQ’ (unpatented).‘PHALFONXHE’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALFENCK’ in that‘PHALFONXHE’ has a purple apical lobe with white in the middle towardthe tip and light brown wings, and a white lateral lobe with purple andred-purple stripes and small yellow region on one side, whereas‘PHALFENCK’ has a red-purple apical lobe that is slightly purple towardthe whiskers with a touch of yellow at the base, and a red-purplelateral lobe with a touch of white. Additionally, ‘PHALFONXHE’ has lightpurple lateral sepals and purple whiskers with white edge, whereas‘PHALFENCK’ has red-purple lateral sepals and red-purple whiskers withyellow tips.

‘PHALFONXHE’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALFUNWUQ’ in that‘PHALFONXHE’ has a purple apical lobe with white in the middle towardthe tip and light brown wings, and a white lateral lobe with purple andred-purple stripes and small yellow region on one side, whereas‘PHALFUNWUQ’ has a red-purple apical lobe with a touch of purple towardthe whiskers, and a purple, dark red and white lateral lobe with darkred fleck toward the base. Additionally, ‘PHALFONXHE’ has light purplelateral sepals and purple whiskers with white edge, whereas ‘PHALFUNWUQ’has red-purple lateral sepals and red-purple whiskers.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALFONXHE’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.